Quilts and Other Stuff from Frances

Blog

No more Owls!!

February 14, 2026 2 Comments

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Owl quilt I inherited from my friend Nancy…

My EASY decision was to quilt it and donate it to my guild’s charity group.

My initial plan was to add a border or two, but I finally decided to keep things simple and add a striped binding…

BUT FIRST, I had to quilt it!!

I had so much fun quilting the owls and leaves….

I had way too many ideas for how to quilt the background, but once again, went for simple and did some curvy lines….

When it came time to add the binding, I had to remind myself exactly HOW to cut a bias binding….

After a few false starts, I had the binding made and applied….

It is the PERFECT finish for such a fun quilt!!

There has been one change…. the quilt is being donated to a fundraiser for the Jeannette Rankin Foundation.

This wonderful organization empowers women aged 35 and older to complete their college degrees and transform the next chapter of their lives.

I can think of no better place for Nancy’s wonderful quilt!

My goal for this UFO was to have it finished by the end of January, and I ALMOST made it. The final stitches were put in on Sunday, February 1st!

I am thrilled that ONE of my many UFO’s can be marked off the list!

……………………………………………………………………………..

Do you struggle to decide what to quilt in your blocks? If so, check out my FREE series…..

Click HERE for more information

Mix straight & curvy lines for even more texture

February 13, 2026 No Comments

Last week, we used curvy lines to make a fun cross-hatch.

This week, we are going to quilt a mix of straight and curvy lines… but on a diagonal!!

Again, you get SO much texture by just quilting simple lines…..

SEE….I told you that you could quilt it yourself!!

———————————————————————-

Be sure you don’t miss a single FMQ pattern idea. Subscribe today…

An Unexpected Acceptance

February 12, 2026 10 Comments

There is an art gallery near me that has an open show each year, and I decided to enter.

You could place 3 entries for the same fee, so I entered “Catherine Wheel of Color”….

…. and Hiding Behind the Red…..

Since I could enter one more, I decided to throw in “Dots Down the Drain”…..

If you remember, this was my Cherrywood Challenge Entry, made during a time of intense physical and emotional exhaustion. I finally gave up on my original idea and just sewed on some dots.

AND, YOU GUESSED IT…….

The only one that was accepted was “Dot’s Down the Drain”!

I NEVER expected this quilt to see the light of day, and am thrilled that it will hang in the Lyndon House 2025 Juried Exhibition!!

Now I need to get a sleeve and label on it!!

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Do you have a stack of scraps that you want to use in a fun design?

Check out this pattern for a quick and easy scrap quilt that will help empty your bins and bring a smile to your face!!

Full Color pattern includes step by step instructions for blocks and border.

Click HERE for more information.

End of posts!

No posts here!